Prior to Procedure

Talk to your doctor about your medications. You may be asked to stop taking some medications up to one week before the procedure.

Before your procedure, you may need to:

Follow a special diet.

Eat a light meal the night before. Do not eat or drink anything after midnight.

Take antibiotics or other medications.

Shower the night before the procedure with a special soap.

Arrange to have someone drive you to and from the procedure.

Arrange for help at home as you recover.

Anesthesia

General
anesthesia will be given—you will be asleep during the procedure

Description of Procedure

A lobectomy may be done in one of two ways:

Traditional thoracotomy—A large incision will be made. The ribs will be spread. The doctor will locate and remove the lung lobe.

Video-assisted thoracic procedure—Several small incisions will be made between your ribs. A tiny camera and special tools will be inserted through the incisions. Your doctor will be able to see the inside of your chest on a nearby monitor. The lung lobe will be located and removed.

If you are having a lobectomy to remove cancer, the doctor will also remove lymph glands in your chest. The glands will be tested for any sign of cancer.

After completing the procedure, your doctor will place tubes in your chest. They will help drain the chest cavity. The incision(s) will be closed with stitches or staples.

Immediately After Procedure

You will be taken to a recovery room. You will be given fluids and medications through an IV.

How Long Will It Take?

1-4 hours

How Much Will It Hurt?

Anesthesia will prevent pain during surgery. Pain and discomfort after the procedure can be managed with medications.

Average Hospital Stay

Thoracotomy—about 1-2 weeks

Video-assisted thoracic procedure—2-5 days

Post-procedure Care

At the Hospital

You will be asked to cough and walk often. You may be given an incentive spirometer. This is a breathing exercise device that will encourage you to take deep breaths. The chest tube will be removed before you go home.

Preventing Infection

During your stay, the hospital staff will take steps to reduce your chance of infection, such as:

Washing their hands

Wearing gloves or masks

Keeping your incisions covered

There are also steps you can take to reduce your chance of infection, such as:

Washing your hands often and reminding your healthcare providers to do the same

Reminding your healthcare providers to wear gloves or masks

Not allowing others to touch your incision

At Home

You will have to limit specific activities, but daily walks may be encouraged. Follow instructions on wound care to prevent infection. Your doctor may advise medications to ease discomfort.

Call Your Doctor

It is important for you to monitor your recovery after you leave the hospital. Alert your doctor to any problems right away. If any of the following occur, call your doctor:

Signs of infection, including fever and chills

Redness, swelling, increasing pain, excessive bleeding, or any discharge from the incision site

RESOURCES:

CANADIAN RESOURCES:

References:

Information for patients undergoing a thorascopic wedge/lobectomy. University of Michigan Department of Surgery website. Available at:
http://surgery.med.umich.edu/thoracic/patient/discharge_followup/teaching/tscope_lobe.shtml.
Accessed May 23, 2013.

All EBSCO Publishing proprietary, consumer health and medical information found on this site is accredited by URAC. URAC's Health Web Site Accreditation Program requires compliance with 53 rigorous standards of quality and accountability, verified by independent audits. To send comments or feedback to our Editorial Team regarding the content please email us at
HLEditorialTeam@ebscohost.com.

This content is reviewed regularly and is updated when new and relevant evidence is made available. This information is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with questions regarding a medical condition.